The pending execution of Indiana death row inmate David Woods on May 4 is a milestone in the history of Indiana's death penalty. Our nagging doubts and fears about the death penalty system being Indiana's "other lottery" have now been confirmed and thoroughly documented in a recent report by the American Bar Association. Out of this report rises an opportunity to show that Indiana will not stand by while a man is executed as a result of so flawed and suspect a system. Instead, we must show that Indiana stands for fairness and true justice by demanding a hold on executions until the ABA report's recommendations can be further examined and the death penalty system as a whole can be judged. A moratorium is not only advisable, but is also overwhelmingly supported by 61 percent of Hoosiers as demonstrated in an ABA-commissioned poll. Once the ticking clock of impending executions is silenced, objective examination of this system will expose the inhumanity, inefficiency and injustice of capital punishment. I urge all who are concerned about ensuring the legitimacy of our justice system to petition their legislators and Gov. Mitch Daniels for a stay of Woods' execution and a moratorium on capital punishment. I was delighted to see the story on efforts by local youth to recycle plastic grocery bags which would otherwise fill up our landfills or clutter up our garages (Tribune, April 9). I am also encouraged by local retailers that pay the customer a few cents to return bags for recycling. I would like to suggest one additional option to local residents: donating the plastic bags (clean and not torn) to local food pantries. As someone who has helped to organize food pantries at both Little Flower Catholic Church and at Catholic Charities, I know how much these bags are needed. We would often have to call and request that retailers donate bags. Both of these food pantries often provide food to more than 800 households per month, and usually give each household two to three sacks of food. So, just these two food pantries alone need more than 3,500 gently used bags each month to help provide food for the hungry in our community. Recycling is a great practice to teach our children. Reusing bags to help feed the hungry is a good practice in charity to teach our children as well. A headline on The Tribune business page April 11 read, "Gasoline price surge easing." On April 12, gas prices at a local station went from $2.69 to $2.86. Now that's what I call a splendid April Fools' story even if it's a little late! First it was Jane Fonda invited to speak at the YWCA event. Then Saint Mary's College invites Cindy Sheehan. Perhaps Indiana University South Bend and the University of Notre Dame could invite Rosie O'Donnell and Nancy Pelosi as speakers for graduation ceremonies. This would put the Michiana area in a position to stake its claim as the center for the promotion of anti-American crackpots -- at least the female wing. To promote gender balance, Bethel College and Holy Cross College could invite professor and political activist Ward Churchill and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to spew their anti-American rhetoric at a local event. The Chamber of Commerce could then get involved by sponsoring a yearly event recognizing anti-American lunacy. For the first annual banquet, I would invite Al Gore. He could bring along some of his anti-American buddies from the United Nations, since the U.N. has provided Gore with all the global warming propaganda he uses to attack U.S. capitalism for its use of energy. Plus, Gore could explain how he uses "carbon-offsets" to justify his own lavish lifestyle of energy consumption. Going east on Indiana 2 as you approach the bypass from the west, you see a large Indiana Department of Transportation sign saying "Michigan City, go north on the bypass." You're going north away from Michigan City on 2 and the sign is telling you how to get to Michigan City. If you go north on the bypass, you reach U.S. 20 with another huge InDOT sign saying "Michigan City, next left," or something to the effect, that means take U.S. 20 west to Michigan City. U.S. 20 West takes you through New Carlisle and meets up with Indiana 2, three or four miles west of New Carlisle. If you are leaving South Bend on Western Avenue, another huge InDOT sign says "Michigan City next right," which also takes you to U.S. 20 and west to the intersection of Indiana 2 and U.S. 20. I asked an InDOT man who designed this routing and he answered with a blank stare. How many thousands of dollars it must have cost to build and erect these signs. Also, they route all the semi-trucks that are heading west to go through New Carlisle. We don't need that. Just ask residents of Lakeville. I am saddened and infuriated by Tina Hepworth's letter (Voice, April 10). Girl Scouts dedicate countless hours to service projects. Making blankets, planting flowers and stuffing stockings for the homeless are just a few things one troop has done this year. Cookie sale money keeps the Girl Scouts going, enabling each troop to continue service projects and learning experiences. Each troop receives a small portion back, based on boxes sold, as a reward for the hard work they do, and the work it takes to sell and deliver hundreds of boxes. This is meant to be used for something fun. It is unbelievable to me that someone would belittle the generosity shown by these 7-year-olds in donating half of the reward they worked so hard to earn. It would have been acceptable to use the money for a fun trip or summer camp, but they chose to give back to those in need again. I am so proud of our Brownies. This donation had nothing to do with how much money Granger does or does not have, but how much love and generosity these children have in their hearts. Shame on Hepworth. Even in today's reruns of those old movies set in Casablanca and Cairo, there was something mystical when Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Terhan Bey sat around in desert tents smoking their Turkish waterpipes. A new study by the American Lung Association says the rapid growth of so-called hookah bars, emphasizing the use of tobacco waterpipes, poses a severe health risk. Especially vulnerable are 18- to 24-year-olds, who have quickly become the leading users of this centuries-old device to consume specially-made tobaccos. The hookah heats the tobacco and passes the smoke through a bowl of water. The smoker then draws tobacco smoke through a mouthpiece connected to the pipe by a rubber hose. This form of tobacco use, which originated in Persia and India, is making a comeback because it is mistakenly thought a safer alternative to cigarettes. The truth, according to the ALA, is that hookah tobacco is not safe at all. That's because a typical smoking session, often drawing several people at the same sitting, lasts 40 to 45 minutes compared to 5 or 10 minutes with a cigarette. It adds up to increased exposure to dangerous chemicals. Another risk, says the study, is that teens are eight times more likely to experiment with cigarettes if they'd ever used a hookah. It really isn't as harmless or glamorous as it looks! We have all suffered and experienced the sorrow of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Are we angered enough to demand of our legislators that handguns be banned in our country? Handguns are not necessary for individuals. We have police and National Guard for that purpose. This can be accomplished. No one thought smoking would be banned, but it's happening. Too many people are dying due to accidents or madmen who kill for the thrill of it. Ban handguns now! WRITE TO US